Simis Scoop
November 17, 2023
Principal's Letter
A Note from Mrs. Murray
Hi Simis Families,
This week we celebrated kindness in our classrooms. Our students learned about being an upstander and advocating for themselves and others. Students in 3rd and 4th grade showcased our Arizona IB Day of Service by teaching Board members how make friendship bracelets. All students participated in this activity on Wednesday. We will give the bracelets to other Madison schools for social workers to pass out when a student needs a reminder that there are upstanders all around. Also this week, the Governing Board recognized two of our staff members: Rita Atkinson (1st grade) and Laurel Moran (attendance clerk) for their hard work and positive contributions to Madison Simis.
Our midyear screening assessments will take place after Thanksgiving Break. We use the assessment data to reflect on the past semester and to inform our instruction for the upcoming semester. Students in all grades will be assessed with NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) for mathematics, and using FASTBridge for reading. A report will be sent home following the screening dates to share student academic progress and growth in each area. Students in Grades K-3 who score below proficiency will also receive a letter explaining what interventions will be used to monitor and address academic needs.
MTSS is our Multi-Tiered System of Support we provide to all students at Simis. We focus on academic, behavioral, and social emotional needs of students to determine what resources, interventions, and strategies are best used to support each individual. If you have not completed the MTSS survey for the district (about 10 minutes), please provide your input by November 20th.
This weekend is our Turkey Trot and Fall Book Fair! We hope to see all families on Saturday when gates open at 1pm--the race will start at 2pm. Even if it rains and we cannot run outside, we will still be at school for the food drive/donation and the Book Fair. Please note that school is closed Wednesday-Friday next week for Thanksgiving.
Thank you,
Lindsay Murray
What's Happening in Classrooms?
Inquiry Strategy: See Think Wonder
Reading Strategy: Heart Words
Math Strategy: Hundreds Chart
Student Wellness
Practicing Gratitude
We are entering a time of year when families tend to talk about gratitude and giving thanks. Gratitude can help us feel joy, increase our confidence, and reduce anxiety and stress in our lives. At school, we encourage staff and students to practice a "mindful moment" where they can identify something that makes them happy and appreciative. Teachers will explicitly model and practice gratitude in our Community Circles. Throughout each day, we thank students for demonstrating positive behavior and acknowledge how they are creating a safe and happy school environment through their actions. Each time we practice gratitude at school, we are building a community that works together and values its members. If you want to learn more about practices for gratitude at home, you can explore this resource and this article.
Important Dates
Turkey Trot and Fall Book Fair
Saturday, Nov 18, 2023, 01:00 PM
No School Thanksgiving Break
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2023, 07:15 AM
No School Thanksgiving Break
Thursday, Nov 23, 2023, 07:15 AM
No School Thanksgiving Break
Friday, Nov 24, 2023, 07:15 AM
TCT 1pm Early Release
Wednesday, Nov 29, 2023, 01:00 PM
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Notes from Mrs. Powers
Arizona IB Day of Service
Wednesday was the annual Arizona IB Day of Service. Each year, IB schools from all over the state participate in a day of service. It is a wonderful time for the school community to join by taking action. This year, Simis promoted kindness and being an Upstander. We started the week with “World Kindness Day”. This week was also a “Kindness” Spirit Week. Classes made kindness flowers, wrote a pledge to be kind, and listened to read-alouds about being caring and kind.
The service project was completed on Wednesday. Fourth and third-grade students helped Kinder, First, and Second-grade students make KIND bracelets. These bracelets will be given to the other Madison Schools so their social workers can hand them out as they promote kindness in their schools! The students did a great job working together to show kindness to others!
Library Information
Did you know?
A new book list will be posted soon! A letter about the new list will be sent home 7 days prior to it posting. Please check the Madison Simis webpage after Thanksgiving Break for more information. Families can browse through all the selections in the electronic library by browsing in the Destiny Discover website.
Simis Site Council Updates
General Announcements
Updates from the Health Office
Notes from Nurse Megan
- Health Office reminder
Students must stay home for a full 24 hours after any fever, vomiting or diarrhea. They should also stay home from school if they have a persistent cough, redness/swelling or signs of infection to their throat, or an unidentified rash that hasn't been cleared by a medical provider. You will be asked to pick up your student from school for any of the above symptoms.
When in doubt, please keep your child home. If you have questions/concerns about whether your student can be at school, please call the health office at 602-664-7322, or email mbefort@madisoned.org. Thank you for being considerate of our school community and keeping your student home when sick.
Parent/Guardian Opportunities
THRIVE Parent Information Series
Madison School District just placed 4 new modules in our THRIVE section of the Madison website. These short and informative videos with experts in the field provide families with resources to approach and support their child in ways that align with the students of the Alpha and iGeneration.
School Lunch Visitor Registration Form
Sign up for a lunch visit here! Please read the details on the sign up form for more information.
As a reminder, we ask that all parents sit with their child at the visitor's table in the cafeteria and say goodbye as students head out to recess.